'This right here was petty. This had nothing to do with gang activity at all,' M-Bone's friend tells MTV News of the rapper's shooting.
By Rob Markman, with reporting by Matt Elias
Fans at the makeshift M-Bone memorial in Inglewood, California
Photo: Matt Elias/ MTV News
Hip-hop has no doubt been saddened by the death of Mante "M-Bone" Talbert, but it is his Cali Swag District bandmates and his friends in the Inglewood community in California who have been hit the hardest.
On Wednesday, MTV News went to visit the makeshift memorial on La Brea Avenue, where M-Bone was tragically gunned down on Sunday. Fans and friends of the young hip-hop star have been gathering at the spot in front of Airport Liquor and Groceries, leaving flowers and candles and writing messages in his memory.
Neighborhood friend Taylor Blackburn is still struggling to come to terms with the loss. "My whole world just, like, dropped. I couldn't even imagine — just even looking at this," she said, motioning toward the memorial. "It's set in, but it hasn't set in."
Justin Teague admits that he hadn't seen Talbert in some time, but he still was hurt by the news. "I didn't get the chance to mess with him recently, because he was doin' his stuff out there — you know, showbiz and whatnot. But that was my dude though."
For Blackburn, it was M-Bone's sense of humor that she remembers most. "I never had a boring time with him," she shared. "I'd be in the studio with him, chilling with him and the rest of the group. We would just always have fun. It was never boring when I was around him. He was so funny. Always dancing, always dancing."
Romel Bayyam, who knew Talbert since his days attending Morningside High School, was visibly upset and seemingly angry about the death of his friend. "This right here was petty. This had nothing to do with gang activity at all," he said. "All the world sees is M-Bone. I know Mante Talbert. I know him. That's my brother, that's my brother."
Police are still investigating the murder of the 22-year-old, who was struck down in a drive-by shooting.
The Inglewood Police Department is asking anyone with information about M-Bone's death to come forward and call its homicide division at (310) 412-5246 or its 24-hour anonymous hot line at (888) 41 CRIME or (888) 412-7463.
Stay tuned to MTV News for further details as this story develops.
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